ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Government troops arrested two gunmen suspected to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who were caught blocking a road along the boundary of Panamao and Luuk towns in Sulu, a top military official said Friday.
Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Joint Task Force Sulu commander, identified the arrested individuals as Rano Jillang and Medzfar Aminulla, both from Panamao, Sulu.
Vinluan said they were arrested by the troops of the Army’s 2nd Special Forces Battalion around 3 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Gagguil, Panglima Estino town.
Vinluan said the arrest of the two came after the residents in the area reported that there were two gunmen blocking the provincial highway that connects the municipalities of Panamao and Luuk.
Jillang and Aminulla yielded two high powered firearms consisting of an M-16 Armalite and an M-14 rifle with magazines and ammunition and two grenades, the Army official said.
He said the two were turned over to the Municipal Police Station of Panglima Estino for the filing of formal charges.
He said investigation is also being conducted to confirm their affiliation with the ASG and motive in blocking the provincial highway.
“I am very grateful to the courageous civilians who reported these lawless elements in their communities. The incident today manifests the Tausug Community's full commitment in maintaining the peace and order for economic growth and human development here in Sulu.” he said. (PNA)
